Does my small puppy need a winter coat and booties for cold winters?

Batman is cute!!!! I would recommend a coat for sure when he goes outside. If he is going outside for longer then 10 minutes, I would also recommend boots (if he will wear them). These little ones lose body heat quickly. Thank you for using Pet Coach!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If you are going to go outside and it is very cold out, or if you will be going for long walks or on colder surfaces (not snow but ice or cold pavement) then booties are a good idea as they can get frostbite and wounds from cold on their feet. Best of luck with Spike! Have fun with him!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! In reality if Teddy likes the snow and he is comfortable outside you do not necessarily need the booties and coat unless you are staying for an extended amount of time (over 20-30 minutes). You can start using it when it is under 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It really depends on Teddy and what he tolerates. For my dogs I usually do it when it is under 20 degrees Fahrenheit based on what they tolerate specifically. Good luck!

Hello. It really depends on the overall conditions & how long your pet will be outdoors. Temps around freezing are very tolerable for dogs during short excursions outdoors & longer walks where they will be moving pretty consistently. Temps that get down into the teens, a strong wind or rain, your basset might appreciate a coat, but most dogs can easily tough things out for their daily walks & many resent wearing a coat. There is nothing wrong with putting on a coat, but even a short haired breed can puff up their coats a bit creating an insulating air pocket over their skin. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thanks for your request. An half an hour walks twice daily would be appropriate as well. The jacket will help him but in my opinion booties are not needed. Frostbite is very rare in dogs, but it can occur. A recent paper published on veterinary dermatology (actually the author is Japanese!) revealed a specific mechanism to avoid excessive heat dispersion from paws. Please find related article here: https://phys.org/news/2012-01-dogs-ice-paws.html Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Some dogs really do not like the cold weather. I think it is still fair to try to walk him outside if using a sweater or coat to keep him warm. I would avoid walking him outside when it is raining as dogs can have a hard time regulating their temperature specially when very young. You can get a sweater for him online or at your local pet store. You can use treats to encourage him to walk outside. Good luck and have a good night!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Lexie. If she has a jacket and boots, those will help to protect her from the elements. If not, several short outings will be safer than taking her out for a long walk. I would keep the outings short (maybe 10 mins or so) depending how cold the windchill is where you are located. If she doesn't seem be enjoying herself, this is a sign that she is uncomfortable. It is always best to err on the side of caution. If you are at all concerned, I would just give her additional exercise later this week when it warms up a bit. I hope this information helps!